Sweet ride, the days get longer and the weather, less tyrant, invites you to go out and spend time outdoors. If anyone has a great desire to escape to foreign lands, too many people who want to approach the other hand, their homeland in a different way, taking advantage of any free time to discover the hidden corners with a rich past. If the daily reality is made of traffic and motor vehicles, relax rhymes with bike or comfortable shoes, ready to relaxing walks chasing goals of high interest backpacker therefore for an adventure of the past as a backdrop that territory at the border between Tuscany and Emilia Romagna where, to give an opportunity for lovers of trekking ahead, the way of the Etruscans, a simple route and suitable for everyone, walkable in 5-6 days. A real step back in time leads to the splendor of the Etruscan civilization, crossing what was a key route from the point of view of commercial and cultural areas as connected the Etruscan places south of the Apennines with those of Etruria.
To bring to the fore this fascinating journey Enzo Giannecchini which, together with a group of Prato, has developed six stages: starting point of the ancient Artimino, a charming medieval village in the municipality of Carmignano (Prato) where, between green olive and cypress trees, the ancient castle, ancient buildings and city wall still exists, you can touch this center has become important since the Etruscan population here had built a city and a vast necropolis. From that past, made up of interesting archaeological finds can be seen in the Archaeological Museum of Artimino, recognized in 2012 among the museums of regional importance.
Before you start over again, why not think to delight the senses other than sight: at the Enoteca Cantina del Redi (5 Via martyrs, 4 / a – location, 59015 Artimino Carmignano (PO), Tel 055.8718083, www.lacantinadelredi. it), located inside the historic Fattoria di Artimino in a location of great impact, it is worth to be groped by the Tuscan gastronomy tasting the famous mortadella of Prato or even the crock of polenta and taleggio cheese fondue, grilled on the Tomino radicchio red, Ribollita, the pancakes “Catherine de ‘Medici,” the rags boar, pappardelle with hare, duck potato tortelli and much more.
With a full stomach, but not too heavy, the walk is more pleased: as in a film hit and run scenarios in passer-by, ready to cross the valley of the Bisenzio, horseback Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, rich in forests and woods populated by deer, wild boar etc. The process then continues through Gonfienti, Vaiano, Montecuculi, Montepiano, the artificial lake Brasimone Bolognese Apennines, Grizzana Morandi, and finally crossed the watershed of the Apennines, we land in Marzabotto, a town inhabited since ancient times where there are remains of an Etruscan town dating back to the sixth century BC, whose past is told at the National Etruscan Museum Pompeo Aria (Via Porrettana South 13, Pian di Misano, Tel 051 932353), an ‘important testimony of Etruria, location where you can also pick up a certificate of participation that recognizes commuting to all those who have validated the document in at least 4 different points participating in the initiative.
For those who would then serve with delight as hiking, pleasure typical of the Tuscan Emilian cuisine served at the ‘Antica Osteria Etrusca Residence La Torre, (V. Sperticano 42, Spericano, Marzanotto Bo, Tel 051 932648 a delightful 1300s immersed in the Historical Park of Monte Sole, a rustic but cozy location where you can be groped by tortellini, tigelle, cheeses, meats and, of course, good wine.